Chapter 12

As I kept an eye on Vil's reaction, I continued.

"First, Mother decided to recruit Umber to have Jebra raid the capital."

Umber, the young man Jebra loved. He was originally a male prostitute, but he was apparently fed up with the advances of a woman forty years his senior. Umber accepted Mother's invitation and sweetly whispered to Jebra.

'Instead of running from the witch hunts, why don't we steal the country? If you create a witch's kingdom and become an immortal queen, I will be the first man to kneel at your throne.'

To prevent Jebra from escaping with the gem, she was dragged onto a flashy stage. Jebra was completely taken in and led the disciples, including Mother, to raid the capital, aiming for the head of Stromus Mistria.

"But Lord Stromus had the strongest sword against witches. That was Cross Obsidian, Vil's father."

Vil's face was as pale as if it were floating in the dim light. I made an effort to speak calmly.

"In order to defeat Lord Stromus, they first had to defeat Cross."

A knight who had sworn extraordinary loyalty to the king. He was probably well-informed about the Rose Gem. ... Keeping him alive would only sow the seeds of trouble.

"To avoid any injuries, the witches decided to take hostages. However, Cross was fully aware of the witches' grudges and had hidden his beloved wife in the castle. The witches couldn't touch her. ... Then, Lord Schneur tricked Cross's wife and handed her over to the witches. That's how he gave the strongest knight a miserable death."

His body swayed violently. I couldn't support him anymore.

"Lord Schneur told Vil's mother, 'You can't be kept alive knowing the truth, but I can save the child in your womb.' Cross's child would surely have a strong core. He would be useful to Mistria someday, so. But Vil's mother rejected it in a rage. ... Do you know her last words?"

When I asked, Sednir said to Vil with a smile.

'I won't let you have this child! I won't hand him over to anyone! I will never forgive you! May the dirty witches and the Mistria royal family be destroyed!'

Then she stabbed herself in the stomach with a dagger. ... But Vil alone was saved. Perhaps she hesitated at the last moment to kill her own child.

Lord Schneur, who witnessed this tragic act, was unsure about Vil's treatment and decided to keep him at a distance to observe him.

I know this because I watched Vil's past episodes in "anime." He was treated terribly by his aunt's family. Lord Schneur must have heard the reports. But he did nothing. How cold a king he is, to not even try to make amends for the child he had made miserable.

Sednir nodded thoughtfully.

"Indeed, I was surprised when I learned that Prince Rain had become close to you. He always has the best luck, even though he knows nothing. And to make you a knight, what an ironic story."

Vil fell to his knees silently.

As a fellow knight, he couldn't forgive the treatment his father received. No matter how strong and capable he was, if he was deemed a hindrance, he would be mercilessly discarded. Having his loyalty trampled on was more painful than being torn apart.

His mother must have been a shock too. A normal mother would wish for her child's life to be saved. But Vil's mother hated the king so much that she refused to save her child.

Yet, in the end, Vil served as a knight to the son of his father's enemy and pledged absolute loyalty to the Mistria royal family. What a cruel twist of fate.

I could tell without looking at his face that Vil's heart was in turmoil.

There's no point in saying anything to Vil now. I'll continue the story.

"Jebra, having killed Cross Obsidian and taken Lord Stromus's head, seized the capital to become queen. Mother used Umber to steal the recipe from Jebra and then killed her teacher without a hint of guilt. She then returned the throne to Lord Schneur and signed a peace treaty, becoming a savior."

Without a collaborator on the kingdom's side, it wouldn't have been resolved so smoothly.

The only Rose Gem that was successfully created was hidden somewhere by Jebra and couldn't be found. Lord Schneur was panicked, but Mother didn't care. With the recipe, she could make the gem. That's what she thought.

Mother wasn't interested in honor or power. All she wanted was eternal beauty and youth. She wanted to retreat to the countryside and create the Rose Gem without interference.

"Mother decided to enter into a contract with Lord Schneur as a precaution. A magical contract to prevent the truth of the raid from being made public. Breaking it would cost one's life. ... However, if a child was born, the penalty would be transferred to the child."

"..."

Vil raised his head slightly.

Neither of them wanted to expose themselves to danger forever, so they made the penalty transfer to their child. How terrible. What do the king and Mother think of their children?

"The engagement contract magic engraved on my and Prince Rain's bodies falls under this. If we had married and had a child, the contract would have dissolved. Hehe, I was relieved when we mutually agreed to break it."

The contract was made to prevent betrayal by becoming family. I think it was a bit naive, but it bought time to solidify their positions.

By the way, discussing the truth among allies doesn't count as a breach of contract. It's not that public. That's why Sednir and I know the truth. Of course, if an ally betrayed and revealed it to the public, the contract holder would die. So Lord Schneur must not have told anyone except his most trusted subjects, like Sednir, who served him during the coup.

Prince Rain seems to know nothing. It's dangerous. He has been investigating the witch's secrets. If he had discovered the truth from twenty years ago and denounced his father's cruelty, he would have died.

But we can't tell him. If he knew his life was at stake, he would hate his father. Two coups in a row is no laughing matter.

Lord Schneur didn't care if Prince Rain died in the worst case. Of course, he must have completely erased all evidence to prevent Prince Rain from discovering the truth.

"Also, this is a bit unbelievable, but the king apparently asked Mother to present him with a Rose Gem. In return, he provided materials and supported her research."

Originally, the plan was to bury the gem and the recipe, but in the end, Lord Schneur succumbed to his greed for immortality. It's disappointing. Well, it's human, I suppose.

Mother must have been very satisfied to be able to conduct her research with royal approval and a sponsor.

"Is this enough to confirm what happened twenty years ago?"

"Yes, you have undoubtedly inherited the truth."

... I'm tired from talking so much. I want something to drink. But this is the main part. I don't like it.

Vil is still sitting on the ground, his shallow breathing audible. Should I say something to him? But Sednir won't wait.

"May I ask a few more questions? Lady Sonia, do you have any grudges against the royal family?"

"Not particularly. Now that the contract is broken, I don't feel the need to bring it up again."

"Hmm... Then, do you have the Rose Gem?"

Please, stop staring at my belly like that. Your gentlemanly facade is slipping.

"No. Jebra's recipe was incomplete, or perhaps it was a trap. After several trials, my mother, who wore the completed gem, did indeed become younger for a while. But she gradually succumbed to the poison and died. It was a poison rose. I thought I had conveyed this in my letter?"

Mother didn't die of illness. She self-destructed. The Seven Great Taboos are not to be meddled with. Even the one completed gem might be a poison rose. It may not even exist after twenty years.

"I was shocked to hear of Lady Aronia's death. But it's been two years since her death. Is there any hope of improving it and presenting it to the king in her place?"

"It's impossible. I have no intention of continuing the research. Because the horror of it has seeped into me. It's an impossible dream for modern witches. You should give up gracefully."

Sednir snorted. He might think I'm a weak witch who has given up on my great ambition.

"Then, where are the recipe and research materials now?"

"The physical copies have been burned. The knowledge and experimental data exist only in my head. I plan to take them to my grave, so rest assured."

"Isn't that dangerous for you?"

"It can be a bargaining chip depending on the situation."

"Our lord, like the previous king, fears most that the recipe will fall into others' hands. You have the Rose Gem, the recipe, and the witch-hunter's sword. You are a very dangerous person. Have you not considered that the king might kill you now that the contract is broken?"

To Mistria, I seem to be a hindrance. Killing me here and burying everything in darkness would bring peace. There would be no risk of the secret leaking. The witches might resent it, but with Vil conveniently nearby, they could make it look like Vil killed me and direct the discontent at him and the former lord, Prince Rain. In the worst case, they could discard Prince Rain as well.

"To prevent that, Witch Sonia has a proposal for the king of Mistria."

Sednir shrugged.

"If Mistria swears not to harm me or those I care about, I will assist in the defense of the western border in Cucuruj. I might even provide intelligence.

Recently, high-level magic has begun to be used in wars in the western continent. There are also movements to employ witches in the military. A wise king like you should be well aware that falling behind the times means no future for Mistria."

Witches generally prefer to avoid politics and focus on their magical research in remote areas. But recently, more witches are forming alliances with states in exchange for providing experimental materials, like Mother.

"True, eliminating me would prevent unnecessary knowledge from spreading and protect the coup's secrets. But it would also mean losing a potential force in times of crisis."

"Relying on witches in times of crisis is risky. There's no guarantee you won't be betrayed."

"Indeed. I suggest focusing on diplomacy to prevent crises. Most importantly, the king of Mistria must keep a firm grip on Prince Rain. I should mention that I have a favor from the wedding."

Depending on how the conversation goes, I could have caused riots or civil unrest. I didn't because of my leniency.

"That's a sore point, but it was your own doing. You can't claim it as a favor."

"True. Then, are you going to kill me here?"

Sednir smiled slyly.

"It's a tough decision. Eliminating you would be best, but you are too beautiful. How about offering yourself? The king might be even more pleased than with the Rose Gem."

I wanted to spit at the lecherous looks of the men. I thought the king was a reasonable man, but I'm disappointed. Sending such a lowly man as a messenger.

"Destroy what you can't obtain. Like the Rose Gem. What do you think?"

"I decline. I prefer a carefree life in the countryside. Besides, your current forces can't kill me. I'm not making a difficult proposal. I'm saying leave me alone to live in the countryside. If needed, I can help Mistria. What's your problem with that?"

"Even if we leave you alone, other men won't. Many were captivated by your beauty at the wedding. You don't want the truth to leak if you fall into the hands of other powerful figures."

Oh.

Beauty can be a curse too.

"Most of all, our lord is concerned that you and Prince Rain will team up. Like the coup twenty years ago, a witch and the crown prince might team up to eliminate the current king. Acquiring Vil might be part of that plan. ... According to reports, you met the prince's friends at noon today."

Really, the worst timing. I left the capital in a hurry to avoid unnecessary suspicion.

That woman, Emeralda, is always getting in my way.

"That's the least likely scenario. Prince Rain and I broke our engagement. Why would we team up for a coup now? What's the point?"

"I don't know, but our lord is a worrier. ... Lady Sonia, could you kill Vil Obsidian here and now to alleviate his concerns? Prove you're not working with the prince, and we'll consider your proposal. And, Vil, fight."

Vil's body tensed at those words.

I see, you want Vil to kill me. Indeed, Vil would be a good match. The survivor would be badly injured, making it easy to deal with. I might be captured, but Vil would be killed without question.

I told Vil the truth from the start because I intended to kill him.

... I expected you to want to eliminate Vil.

"Are you asking us to kill each other? Your plan is transparent. I won't do it. It's ridiculous."

"Is it? ... Look, there are dragons here. I have a few more in the forest. Cucuruj is just a stone's throw away. Do you want to see your hometown float in flames in the dark night?"

While the other four acted as shields, Sednir mounted a dragon. Seeing us not move, the four followed.

They seem to plan to watch our fight from the sky.

"Vil, if you try to escape or die easily, I'll take it out on the prince and Miss Emeralda in the capital. I won't kill them, but there are countless things worse than death. That innocent and pure little girl seems particularly vulnerable."

"Sednir... you!"

Vil glared at Sednir, on the verge of tears.

Threatening my hometown and Vil's friends.

What a despicable mind.

"Fight! If you attack us, we'll head to Cucuruj or the capital!"

The dragons took off, kicking up dust.

We were left in silence.

Hmm, a coincidence?

The situation where Vil and I have to kill each other is like the original "anime."

I almost believe in the power of fate.

But, Sednir, you're disappointing.

You're just a minor character in the original, not even named. You're no match for me. You're so insignificant it's sad.

I won't be manipulated or swayed by anyone.

I won't be controlled by such a cheap plot.

After all, I'm the "final boss," right?